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    Rediff.com  » Business » Madhuchandan, a software engineer from US is making farmers richer!

    Madhuchandan, a software engineer from USis making farmers richer!

    Last updated on: November 18, 2015 15:46 IST

    Under the scorching sun, a software engineer from California is planting paddy 

    saplings, much to the excitement of farmers, who had lost hopes of living a

    decent livelihood. For distressed farmers in Mandya district of Karnataka, which

    saw the highest number of suicides this year, Madhuchandan Chikkadevaiah is a

    true saviour, writes Manu A B/Rediff.com

    Image: , Madhuchandan chucked his comfortable job in the United States to become a farmer.

    Photographs, courtesy: Madhuchandan/Organic Mandya

     From being branded as the farmers’ suicide capital of Karnataka till early this year, Mandya,a good forty kilometers away from Mysuru, has ushered in a silent agrarian revolution as

    farmers are now selling organic farm products for good profits.

    This positive change in their lives occurred thanks to Madhuchandan, an young IT

    professional, who chucked his comfortable job in the United States to sow the seeds of an

    organic farming movement in India.

    To begin with, he started the Mandya Organic Farmers Cooperative Society with the active

    participation of a group of 270 farmers, who now cultivate and sell their organic farm products

    profitably. By setting up a retail outlet near the farmland to sell products, Madhuchandan has

    succeeded in offering the highest price for products

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    Image: Madhuchandan works in the paddy field.

     Today, Organic Mandya’s retail outlet at the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru highway sells organic vegetables, cereals and pulses fresh from the farm. The products are in huge demand as people

    travelling along the highway buy these healthy products.

    Madhu had initially planned to set up his own farm and live the life of a farmer. However, the

    37-year-old engineer was moved by the plight of farmer suicides and heart breaking stories of 

    their families and decided to work for their welfare.

     After working for several IT majors, Madhuchandan co-founded a company called Verifaya in

    2005. Madhu developed the Verifaya Studio, an automated testing software, which is now used

     by corporates across the globe.

    In terms of professional success, Madhu had achieved all that he had dreamt of. It was now 

    time to give back to the village he hailed from. So in August 2014, he returned to India topursue his passion of farming.

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    Image: Madhuchandan with his wife Archana.

     It has been a complete turnaround for Madhu, who has worked in countries like Israel, the UK,

    the Philippines, Africa and the US for the last 15 years.

     With the ambitious mission of making Mandya a completely organic district, Madhu charted

    out his plans optimistically.

    “I feel proud to be a farmer today. To be able to lead a healthier and happier life is a dream

    come true. No job can give the immense satisfaction that farming can offer you. We tend to

    complicate our lives, take up stressful jobs and never try to lend a helping hand to anyone.

     With things falling in place as we planned, I hope to see Mandya district a fully chemical-free

    zone in the next 5 years,” says a confident Madhu, who is supported by 45 employees.

    Image: Organic Mandya’s retail outlet at the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru highway sells fresh products.

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      A great beginning

    The lack of awareness among farmers was the first issue that needed to be tackled. They had all

    sorts of misconceptions about organic farming.

    “In the earlier days, farmers were experts in their field. They knew exactly what they had to do.

    Over the years, they have been misguided to use all sorts of fertilisers and chemicals, which in

    the long run have destroyed the soil and affected crop yields. They made the mistake of 

    following agriculture experts who had no practical expertise. As a result, farmers failed

    miserably. Only 5-6 per cent of farmers succeeded as they followed natural and organicmethods of farming,” says Madhu.

    Image: , The lack of awareness among farmers was the first issue that needed to be tackled.

     Madhu and his team had to spend hours educating farmers to join the organic farming

    movement. It took a while before they could win the confidence of farmers, who have been

    neglected all the while and given false promises.

    Farmers needed support in communication, technology and marketing to sell their products.

    Though the farmers had good products, they did not know how to brand it and get a better

    price.

    “Farmers who toil hard to make sure millions don’t go hungry, should be respected but in

    India they are treated badly. Even agriculture scientists are misleading farmers. Once a group

    of farmers were advised to set the waste on fire after the sugarcane field was harvested. The

    fire actually destroys the micro-organisms that are needed to maintain the soil fertility. The biggest drawback of our country is that we have agriculturists who have lot of theoretical

    knowledge but have no practical wisdom. So they cannot guide the farmers properly. Our

    agriculture universities should have experienced farmers instead of experts,” points out

    Madhu.

    On the positive side, some farmers in Mandya were already doing organic farming but were

    not getting the right price for their products.

    Madhu has been working hard to turn around the fortunes of hundreds of farmers who are

    living on the brink of bankruptcy and desperation.

    This year, acres of sugarcane could not be harvested as the government-run sugar factory shut

    down and farmers could not afford to sell it to far off factories, explains Madhu.

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    Image: ‘Indians spend the least on food but they like to visit the most expensive hospitals, instead they

    should spend more on good food and remain healthy.'

    To add to their woes, banks and money lenders keep harassing farmers, who have no choice

     but to commit suicide. This year, one farmer even went to the extent of setting his sugarcane

    field on fire and jumping into it killing himself.

    “I am sure that we can put an end to this crisis faced by sugarcane growers, who dominate the

    Mandya region. We are taking small positive steps and am sure in the long run, farmers will be

    greatly benefitted,” says Madhu.

    Consumers today are becoming more aware too. But there is a long way to go.

    “Indians spend the least on food but they like to visit the most expensive hospitals, instead

    they should spend more on good food and remain healthy. If you spend more on quality food,

     you will not fall ill. Food should be your medicine and not the other way round,” points out

    Madhu. 

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    Image: Besides 270 farmers, the society has Ayurveda doctors and agriculture scientists, who are

    passionate about bringing major changes in the agriculture sector.

      A breakthrough for farmers

    The first step was to start Mandya Organic Farmers Cooperative Society. Besides 270 farmers,the society has ayurveda doctors and agriculture scientists, who are passionate about bringing

    major changes in the agriculture sector.

    Though the society has received 1,500 applications from farmers expressing their intent to join

    the society, Madhu and his team are scrutinising each and every application before taking new 

    members.

    Madhu also realised the need to have a strong support system to sell the produce. Though the

    farmers had a wide variety of products, they were unaware about how to market it and get

    good profits.

    So he started an enterprise called Organic Mandya to sell the products in a supermarket and

    online too.

    The products turned out to be an instant hit so much so that they are not able to meet the

    surging demands of health-conscious customers.

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    Image: Actress and dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswamy at the supermarket.

     Under the Organic Mandya banner, Madhu has started an ‘integrated organic zone’ to sell

    products. The zone is built next to the organic farmland, it also has a restaurant which

    promotes organic food.

    By setting up the zone near the farmland, the farmers can easily sell their produce without

    depending on middlemen.

    Since the location is on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, it was ideal to get a large number of customers.

     With an oil extraction mill, customers can buy fresh oil as well. Among the 50-55 products

    sold, the most sought after products are Joni Bella (a liquid form of jaggery), jaggery powder

    and jaggery blocks.

    Seeing the huge demand for products has boosted the confidence of farmers, who are now 

     working with great vigour to meet the rising demand.

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    Image: Madhuchandan alongwith the society members met Sri Sri Ravishanker, who appreciated their 

    efforts.

     Farmers are getting double the price for their products through Organic Mandya. The math is

    simple, even if the yield is less in organic farming, the price a farmer gets is double than what a

    normal farmer gets.

    So any day it is more profitable to switch to organic farming. Organic Mandya is encouraging

    more farmers to switch to organic farming on an experimental basis before they completely 

    adapt to eco-friendly ways of farming.

    “Unfortunately, farmers have lost hope. Farming is not a respected profession in India. There

    are so many farmers doing exceptional work but does the government ever recognise their

    contribution? Does the government ever offer doctorates to farmers? It is one of the noblest

    professions and it’s high time farmers live dignified life, says Madhu.

    Today, the irony is that farmer’s children do not work in the fields as they don’t get good

    returns so even farmers who own 1-2 acres of land send their children to cities to eke out a

    living. They end up in bars as waiters or as autorickshaw drivers, which is a terrible state of 

    affairs, explains Madhu.

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    Image: A great beginning to transform the lives of farmers.

     

    Success so far

    Madhu started Organic Mandya with an investment of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) pooled in by 4

    IT professionals.

    The growth of the company has been astounding according to initial estimates.

    “As per current run rate we will be touching revenues of Rs 2.5 crore (Rs 25 million) by next

    September. With the current potential, our business may even touch Rs 8-10 crore (Rs 80-100

    million) by next September 2016. In next 2-3 years, we expect revenues to the tune of Rs 30-40

    crore (Rs 300-400 million) with a net profit of around 10-15 per cent,” points out Madhu who

     wants to prove that every farmer can get high returns for their products.

     Another great initiative, which gives a lot of hope and reassurance to debt-ridden sugarcane

    farmers is the Jaggery Park, which is run by Organic Mandya.

    Image: Jaggery products are an instant hit.

     Giving a major boost to farmers, sugarcane is procured at the highest rate in India - Rs

    3501/tonne for the organic variety. The park makes healthy jaggery products, which are very 

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    much in demand.

     As farmers get high prices for their products, they can tide over the debt-crisis and become

    successful farmers.

    “A breakthrough initiative will be the launch of a new product, research of which is going on at

    Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). Once we launch that product, we can

    procure sugarcane not just from Mandya but from across India, putting an end to the crisis

    sugarcane farmers face,” says Madhu, who explains that Organic Mandya’s products are 20-25

    per cent cheaper than other branded organic products. He believes that there is space for new 

    players in the organic food segment as demand will only keep rising in the years to come.

    Today, a sugarcane farmer who invests around Rs 60,000-70,000 does not even get the

    amount that he spends to cultivate the land as returns as traders do not pay the right value. So

    farmers are forced to take loans, which ultimately burdens them to the extent of committing

    suicide.

    Seeing the positive changes in the lives of organic farmers, many others too are willing to

    switch to organic farming. They had never expected to get such high prices for their produce.

    In a bid to scale up operations, Organic Mandya also plans to open 5 franchisees in Mysuru

    and Bengaluru soon.

    Sweat donation programme

    One of the unique highlights of Organic Mandya is ‘sweat donation’. The agriculture sector,

     which faces acute shortage of labour needs helping hands. So Organic Mandya seeks the helpof people from all walks of life to contribute their ‘sweat’ to a productive purpose.

    “A good majority of professionals go to the gym to cut down calories. In a week they may be

    able to burn out 300-400 calories. And their sweat just goes waste. If he or she decides to work 

    on a field even once a week, maybe digging a small pit in the farm will help them burn out

    1,200 calories. Besides, it will immensely help the farmers and have a productive result.

    Professionals from companies are keen to join for this mutually beneficial program,” says

    Madhu.

    Organic Mandya also has an agri-tourism project where corporate can send their employees to

    get a taste of rural life.

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    Image: With ambitious plans, Madhuchandan has a long way to go.

     The employees can join the farmers at work, have freshly cooked organic food at the field, go

    on a bullock cart ride, breathe fresh air, play native games and enjoy the essence of a village

    life. This in effect gives valuable lessons that will stay with them for life. More importantly, for

    people who have never been to a farm, it will give a first hand experience of how the food that

    they eats comes from.

    Madhu has been getting hundreds of calls from people across the country everyday who would

    either like to join him or replicate the model in their villages and towns.

    “The day is not far off when we will have more organic districts across India. As more people

    prefer to lead healthy lives, the demand for organic food will rise too. Agriculture teaches you

    the importance of hunger and sleep. It is also a lot of hard work, physical exertion but at the

    end of the day, you are at peace and satisfied. I have worked on several important IT projects

    across different companies but I never got the satisfaction that I have now. The passion to

     work on the soil, reap benefits and help hundreds of farmers is an invigorating experience,

    says Madhu.

    Image: Indian farmers can lead a dignified life like their foreign counterparts.

      A long way to go

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    Indian farmers can lead a dignified life like their foreign counterparts. Eventually, it will

    happen. As people become more aware about the ill-effects of pesticide laden food, they will

    have no choice but to switch to a healthy lifestyle, he says.

    “We have just made a small beginning. There is a long way to go. People still think that the best

    career is perhaps joining an IT firm. But does anyone look at the stress they go through

    meeting deadlines and travelling long distances in peak traffic every day? I don’t see the glow 

    on the face of a young engineer but I see it on a 65-year-old farmer’s face. Their hard work,

    strength and perseverance should be a lesson for all youngsters. I would say a farmer earning

    Rs 10,000 in a village will be much happier and healthier than an engineer earning Rs 1 lakh ina city,” says Madhu, highlighting the need to appreciate farming as a way of life.

    Image: ‘We sell chappals and sandals in air-conditioned stores but sell our fruits and vegetables on the

    footpath.’

     India farmers just need to focus on five important aspects to get their priorities right.

    “They need to do a lot of unlearning and start all over again. They should have a direct link 

     with consumers. People should have respect for farmers. The government too must honour

    farmers. Finally, people should respect food. We sell chappals and sandals in air-conditioned

    stores but sell our food and vegetables on the footpath. We as a society have complicated our

    lives and we like to live in the web, doing little to alleviate basic problems. It is high time

    people dismantled their notions that money gives security and happiness. One gets happiness

     when the mind is free from stress. It’s high time people worked towards leading healthier andhappier lives by working in harmony with nature,” explains Madhu.

    If you would like to know more about Madhuchandan’s organic farming

    movement, you can mail him at [email protected]

    Manu A B

    Related News: Madhu, Organic Mandya, Madhuchandan Chikkadevaiah, India, Central FoodTechnological Re search Institute

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    Total 54  messages   Pages | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5  Older >

    WONDERFUL WORKby happy happy (View MyPage) on Nov 22, 2015 07:33 PM

    THANKS A LOT

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    By T,P,Chavhanby (View MyPage) on Nov 21, 2015 09:24 PM

    agriculture is the most beautiful,healthiest and better way of business in this world from centuries.But now a dayspeople are spoiling their health wealth using chemical fertilizers and chemically treated seeds,plants flowers andnuts we eat during their agriculture processing. Madhuchandan is a person who is doing better work to protect our eco-society and human health.All the best Madhu.

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    workingby k v r murthy (View MyPage) on Nov 21, 2015 06:58 PM

    you being a software engineer know, that ultimate are the heads and hands are to be relied upon, but we are too

    intellectuals, allowing a paperless society. sir, propogate this message in this over populated country. as everyone has to cook his own bread and butter,for which money is required by JOB

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    new thinkingby samarjit maity (View MyPage) on Nov 21, 2015 05:00 PM

    want to know more. samarjit,west bengal

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    a software engineer from US is making farmers richer!by jayaram putisari (View MyPage) on Nov 19, 2015 08:27 PM

    The economics of the organic farming is important too. It is obviously not something just fancy today, rather theneed of the hour. Creating a farming community is always welcome as it helps share information and build upconfidence in farmers. Healthy and happy individuals always make positive contributions. I am ashamed to thinkthat we all seek short cuts while any numbers of such novel ventures are waiting to happen. Of course withnecessary capital available before hand things are much easier, faster and more encouraging. Also recognizingpeople and projects are welcome but our tendency to hype things too far is uncalled for.

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    Advantages of Farmingby srinivas ganesh (View MyPage) on Nov 19, 2015 07:33 PM | Hide replies

     As a farmer, I do not worry about i nflation etc. I produ ce everything , keep sufficient grain s,pulses for my self andsell remaining produce.

     As a farmer, I do not bother about giving bunch of fruits an d veg etables to my rel atives wh en they visit my home.

    Because they are all given to me by nature without buying. As a job holder, I cry to give bunch of fruits an d veg etables to relatives when they visit my home, because I have tospend money to buy them.It gives more stress when we purely depend on money.

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    Re: Advantages of Farmingby srinivas ganesh (View MyPage) on Nov 19, 2015 07:37 PMFarming leads to true self sufficiency and can be healthy.The more we mechanise(human invention), the more effort we need to put to maintain thatmechanisation, as a result there is a pressure to maintain that mechanisation and invent moreand more. As a result, nobody is happy(stress) and we are destroying ourselves.

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